Apparatus for displaying battery products

ABSTRACT

An apparatus ( 100 ) for packaging, displaying by hanging or standing, and storing of electrical products, batteries in particular. The apparatus ( 100 ) for packaging a product or products for display, such as a retail sales display, involves an anterior packaging member ( 2 ) and a posterior packaging member ( 4 ), the anterior ( 2 ) and the posterior ( 4 ) packaging members being mounted together, such as by seam-mounting ( 9 ), in a fitted flange configuration. The anterior ( 2 ) and the posterior ( 4 ) packaging members each have a complementary contour for accommodating the product, with the anterior packaging member ( 2 ) having a specific contour shaped to minimize rotation of the battery on display so that the logo on the battery is optimally displayed. The apparatus ( 100 ) may also include feet ( 40 ) for standing as well as a convex display contour ( 3 ).

COPYRIGHT NOTICE AND LIMITED AUTHORIZATION FOR USE

[0001] A portion of the disclosure of the present patent applicationcontains material which is subject to copyright protection. Thecopyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyoneof the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in theUnited States Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, butotherwise reserves all rights under the copyright laws of the UnitedStates (17 U.S.C. §106).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

[0002] The present application is technologically related toconcurrently filed U.S. design patent applications (serial numbers yetto be assigned, attorney docket numbers P1512, P1513, P1514).

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present invention involves cylindrical product packaging.More particularly, the present invention involves AA, AAA, C and D sizebattery product packaging. Even more specifically, the present inventioninvolves battery packaging for retail display and retail storage.

BACKGROUND ART

[0004] Currently, electronic products are typically sold in a hangingplastic packaging. Electronic product packaging, especially forbatteries, is traditionally configured for only containing the productfor display but not for optimizing the display orientation of thecontents. As such, a long-felt need is seen to exist for a packagingapparatus for conveniently packaging, displaying by both hanging orstanding, and storing of electronic products, especially of batteries. Alongstanding problem with current battery packaging apparatus has to dowith battery product rotation after packaging. Due to battery spin afterpackaging, battery logos which were aligned for optimum displaycharacteristics at the time of packaging can become misalignedsubsequent to packaging. This misalignment results in a less appealingproduct display. Additionally, optimizing display of inserts andproviding a means for self standing packaging has been another challengein the field of battery packaging. With other cylindrical products suchas shotgun shells, model rocket motors, candies, mints and writingimplements, important information is present on the products which needsto be optimally displayed.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

[0005] Accordingly, the present invention addresses this long-felt needfor a packaging apparatus for conveniently packaging, displaying by bothhanging or standing, and storing of batteries in a manner whichoptimizes aligned logo orientation and product display. Generally, thepresent apparatus for packaging a product for display, such as a retailsales display, involves an anterior packaging member and a posteriorpackaging member, the anterior and the posterior packaging members beingmounted together with complementary curvature to result in a convexdisplay surrounding the packaged batteries.

[0006] The anterior and the posterior packaging members may each have acomplementary contour for retaining the battery product, with at leastone packaging member having a complementary contour. The anterior andposterior packaging members respective complementary contours each mayhave a molded protrusion for accommodating the lengthwise body portionof the battery. The complementary contour may change in size and numberin order to accommodate batteries of various sizes such as AA, AAA, Cand D.

[0007] The anterior and the posterior packaging members may each beformed from a material having an optical property such as transparency,translucency, and opacity. The anterior and the posterior packagingmembers may each also have an advertising member, such as one or moreinserts. The anterior packaging member may have a floor member foralternatively facilitating standing of the apparatus on a horizontalsurface for display. The anterior packaging member and the posteriorpackaging member may each have at least one coincident orifice forfacilitating displaying the at least one product by hanging as well.

[0008] In addition to the aforementioned, similar anti-rotation benefitscould be extended to other packaged tubular articles to prevent rotationand optimize display. These articles include but are not limited toshotgun shells, cosmetics, candies or mints with a substantially roundaxis, tools and writing implements.

[0009] Advantages of the present invention include, but are not limitedto, conveniently packaging, displaying by both hanging and standing, andstoring of batteries with logos substantially displayed as originallypackaged in their initial alignment with minimal battery logoreorientation over time. In addition, each package may be nested orcomplementary-fitted on any other such package, as well as stood on endwith the convex display face displayed prominently. Other features ofthe present invention are disclosed, or are apparent in the sectionentitled Detailed Description of the Invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0010] For a better understanding of the present invention, reference ismade to the below-referenced accompanying Figures. Reference numbersrefer to the same or equivalent parts of the present inventionthroughout the several figures.

[0011]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the apparatus, in anassembled state, for packaging, displaying, and storing of batteryproducts, in accordance with the present invention.

[0012]FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the apparatus, in anassembled state.

[0013]FIG. 3 is an exploded top view of the apparatus.

[0014]FIG. 4 is an exploded bottom view of the apparatus.

[0015]FIG. 5 is an exploded right side elevation view of the apparatus.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0016]FIG. 1 illustrates, in a front perspective view, the apparatus 100for packaging, displaying, and storing of electronic products,especially of batteries, in accordance with the present invention. Theapparatus 100 comprises an anterior packaging member 2 and a posteriorpackaging member 4, wherein the anterior and the posterior packagingmembers 2, 4 are mounted together in a fitted flange configuration by atleast one technique such as seam-mounting, adhesion, interference-fit,compression-fit, tongue and groove, clip, staple, and tape. When theanterior and posterior packaging members 2,4 are assembled, the seam 9borders the top horizontal package frame member 8 and the side verticalpackage frame member 10. The anterior and the posterior packagingmembers 2, 4 each have a complementary contour for accommodating one ormore battery product or products (not shown). The anterior packagingmember has molded protrusions for the curved rear battery compartments17 and front battery compartments 19. Each of the battery compartmentshave a conforming shape for accommodating a body portion of a battery,as well as rear portions disposed behind the front portion of theanterior battery package member 2 and, therefore, not shown in thisfigure. In addition to the conforming shape of the front batterycompartment, the anterior packaging member includes a top horizontalbattery compartment frame 20, a secondary horizontal battery compartmentframe 24, a vertical front battery display shelf 34 and a horizontalfront battery display shelf 36. To minimize battery rotation, the frontbattery compartments each include a cathode center containmentprotrusion 27, a cathode inner ring depression 29, a cathode ringprotrusion 30, a cathode outer ring depression 33, and a horizontalpackage contour groove 39. It is noteworthy that the anti-spin propertyof the described packaging functions primarily due to the snug placementof a battery against the contours of the cathode center containmentprotrusion 27, cathode ring protrusion 30 and the horizontal packagecontour groove 39. The anterior and the posterior packaging members 2, 4may each be formed from a material having an optical property such astransparency, translucency, and opacity. The anterior and the posteriorpackaging members 2, 4 may each also have an advertising member, such asat least one insert (not shown). The primary display portion of theinsert is viewed through the display face of the battery package 15,except for portions that have been removed to make way for the optionalslot shaped hole 11 with hanging rack guide 14 for vertical hanging.Positioned between the anterior and posterior packaging member 2, 4 maybe at least one insert (not shown). The anterior packaging member 4 mayhave one or more display package foot 40 for alternatively facilitatingdisplaying of the product by standing of the apparatus 100 on ahorizontal surface S_(h) (not shown).

[0017]FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the apparatus, in anassembled state. The apparatus 100 depicts the counterpart contour rearbattery containment 18 to contain the rear batteries (not shown). Pleasenote, as the top, bottom and side contour grooves are not present in therear battery compartment 18, rear batteries (not shown) would not besubject to the anti-rotation properties of the claimed invention.

[0018]FIG. 3 illustrates, in an exploded top view, the apparatus 100 ofFIG. 1, and the disposition of the product being packaged, in accordancewith the present invention. The conforming shape around the frontbattery are particularly noticeable in this illustration, as the cathodecenter containment protrusion 27 snugly fits the front batterypreventing lateral movement which could lead to battery rotation. Thecathode inner ring depression 29, a cathode ring protrusion 30, acathode outer ring depression 33 all add to the anti-rotation propertiesof front batteries within the battery package. The anterior packagingmember 2 and the posterior packaging member 4 each comprise an interiorcontour for accommodating and retaining the battery product and anexterior contour for a complementary-fit of the apparatus to any suchother apparatus. An additional display face convex contour 3 can be seenwhich emphasizes display of any marketing inserts (not shown).

[0019]FIG. 4 illustrates, in an exploded bottom view, the apparatus 100of FIG. 1, in accordance with the present invention. The anode ringindentation 88 assists in preventing battery rotation due to a flushconformation with front batteries. The bottom of the foot stand is alsovisible at 68.

[0020]FIG. 5 illustrates, an exploded right side elevation view of theapparatus of FIG. 1, in accordance with the present invention. Toprovide for proper display when rack mounting is not desired or present,foot stand front 69 and foot stand side contour 67 are shown in sideprofile and provide for stand alone display when assembled as apparatus100.

[0021] Moreover, no requirement exists for a device or method to addresseach and every problem sought to be resolved by the present invention,for such to be encompassed by the present claims. Furthermore, noelement, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intendedto be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element,component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. However,it should be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art thatvarious changes and modifications in form, semiconductor material, andfabrication material detail may be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the inventions as set forth in the appended claims.No claim herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C.§112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using thephrase “means for.”

SCOPE OF INVENTION

[0022] While the particular method and apparatus, as herein shown anddescribed in detail, are fully capable of attaining the above-describedadvantages of the invention, the presently preferred embodiment of thepresent invention is understood to be merely representative of thesubject matter which is broadly contemplated by the present invention,the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodimentswhich may become obvious to those skilled in the art, and that the scopeof the present invention is accordingly to be limited by nothing otherthan the appended claims, in which reference to an element in thesingular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly sostated, but rather “one or more.” All structural and functionalequivalents to the elements of the above-described preferred embodimentthat are known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expresslyincorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed bythe present claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0023] The present invention finds industrial applicability in thepackaging industry, particularly when cylindrical shaped articles arecontained, more particularly when the articles are batteries.

What is claimed:
 1. An apparatus for displaying, packaging and storingat least one battery product comprising: a front packaging member, and arear packaging member, the rear packaging member being affixed to saidfront packaging member, at least one front battery compartment, the atleast one front battery compartment each include a cathode centercontainment protrusion, a cathode inner ring depression, a cathode ringprotrusion, a cathode outer ring depression, a horizontal packagecontour groove and at least one anode ring indentation.
 2. The apparatusof claim 1 further comprising at least one package display foot.
 3. Anapparatus for packaging, displaying, and storing at least onecylindrical product, comprising: a front packaging member, and a rearpackaging member, the rear packaging member being affixed to said frontpackaging member, and a means for minimizing cylindrical productrotation of said at least one cylindrical product, the meansincorporated into said front packaging member.
 4. An apparatus, asrecited in claim 3, wherein the said means for minimizing cylindricalproduct rotation comprises an upper contour for receiving saidcylindrical product in close proximity so as to minimize cylindricalproduct rotation.
 5. An apparatus, as recited in claim 3, wherein thesaid means for minimizing cylindrical product rotation comprises a lowercontour substantially conforming to said cylindrical product in closeproximity so as to minimize cylindrical product rotation.
 6. Anapparatus, as recited in claim 3, wherein the said means for minimizingcylindrical product rotation comprises a top cylindrical product contourand a bottom cylindrical product contour for receiving said cylindricalproduct in close proximity with said means for minimizing rotation. 7.An apparatus, as recited in claim 6, wherein said cylindrical product isat least one battery.
 8. An apparatus, as recited in claim 7, whereinsaid means for minimizing cylindrical product rotation is designed toaccommodate a battery selected from the group of AA, AAA, C and Dbattery size.
 9. An apparatus, as recited in claim 7, wherein said meansfor minimizing cylindrical product rotation is designed to accommodatemultiple batteries of the same size selected from the group of AA, AAA,C and D battery size.
 10. An apparatus, as recited in claim 7, whereinsaid means for minimizing cylindrical product rotation is designed toaccommodate multiple batteries of different sizes selected from thegroup of AA, AAA, C and D battery sizes.
 11. An apparatus, as recited inclaim 7, wherein said means for minimizing cylindrical product rotationincludes at least one horizontal and at least one vertical backstop. 12.An apparatus, as recited in claim 7, wherein said means for minimizingcylindrical article rotation includes at least one horizontal packagecontour groove.
 13. An apparatus, as recited in claim 7, wherein saidapparatus further comprises display feet on the bottom of the apparatus.14. An apparatus, as recited in claim 7, wherein said apparatus furthercomprises a display face convex contour.
 15. An apparatus for packaging,displaying, and storing at least one cylindrical product containedbetween a rear packaging member and a front packaging member affixed tothe rear packaging member, the first improvement comprising: a toporientation member, a bottom orientation member, and a means forminimizing article rotation by substantially conforming to the top andbottom of said cylindrical article and optimized to prevent rotation ofsaid at least one cylindrical article, the second improvement comprisingdisplay feet incorporated into said front packaging member, and, thethird improvement comprising a display face convex contour for optimumdisplay of packaging inserts.